The Mystery Guest: A Maid Novel (Molly the Maid)

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A new mess. A new mystery. It’s up to Molly the maid to uncover the truth, no matter how dirty, in this standalone novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid, a Good Morning America Book Club pick.

“Polished to perfection!”—Shari Lapena, author of Everyone Here Is Lying
 
“Lives up to the hype . . . both a delightful whodunit and a pointed social commentary.”—The Washington Post

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS’ CHOICE • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: PopSugar, Harper’s Bazaar, Chicago Public Library, CrimeReads, Bookreporter


Molly Gray is not like anyone else. With her flair for cleaning and proper etiquette, she has risen through the ranks of the glorious five-star Regency Grand Hotel to become the esteemed Head Maid. But just as her life reaches a pinnacle state of perfection, her world is turned upside down when J. D. Grimthorpe, the world-renowned mystery author, drops dead—very dead—on the hotel’s tearoom floor.
 
When Detective Stark, Molly’s old foe, investigates the author’s unexpected demise, it becomes clear that this death was murder most foul. Suspects abound, and everyone wants to know: Who killed J. D. Grimthorpe? Was it Lily, the new Maid-in-Training? Or was it Serena, the author’s secretary? Could Mr. Preston, the hotel’s beloved doorman, be hiding something? And is Molly really as innocent as she seems?
 
As the high-profile death threatens the hotel’s pristine reputation, Molly knows she alone holds the key to unlocking the killer’s identity. But that key is buried deep in her past, as long ago, she knew J. D. Grimthorpe. Molly begins to comb her memory for clues, revisiting her childhood and the mysterious Grimthorpe mansion where she and her dearly departed Gran once worked side by side. With the entire hotel under investigation, Molly must solve the mystery posthaste. Because if there’s one thing she knows for sure, it’s that secrets don’t stay buried forever.

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Published Nov 28, 2023

336 pages

Average rating: 7.4

218 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

josiereadsalot
May 26, 2025
10/10 stars
Molly the Maid may be one of my favorite characters of 2023. I just adore her.
wardbunch
Mar 26, 2025
8/10 stars
Fun detective. Looking forward to more adventures
Nancy Keyes
Jan 02, 2025
8/10 stars
A delightful, light, murder mystery. Both a prequel and sequel to Nita’s debut “The Maid”. Filled with witty idioms and good humor.
SharonLooksAtBooks
Oct 24, 2024
8/10 stars
What I Liked: Another murder at the Regency Grand Hotel, and quirky Molly from "The Maid" returns to help the police solve the crime. What I Disliked: Flashbacks about Molly's grandmother and her experiences working in the mansion are more interesting than the solving of the murder.
CharleyB
Jul 26, 2024
8/10 stars
Qwerky snd original sequel from Prose. Great new age who dunnit. 8/10

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